amino acid

US /ˌæm.ɪ.noʊ ˈæs.ɪd/
UK /ˌæm.ɪ.noʊ ˈæs.ɪd/
"amino acid" picture
1.

a simple organic compound containing both a carboxyl (—COOH) and an amino (—NH2) group. Amino acids are the basic building blocks of proteins.

:
Proteins are made up of long chains of amino acids.
Certain foods are rich in essential amino acids.